Team Canada West celebrates a goal during the gold medal game at the 2012 World Junior A Challenge, which was won by Team USA. TINA COMEAU PHOTO

The crowd cheers at a World Junior A Challenge game in Yarmouth. TINA COMEAU PHOTO

Team USA wins the 2013 World Junior A Challenge with 4-1 over Russia. TINA COMEAU PHOTO

There were 150 volunteers during the 2013 World Junior A Challenge in Yarmouth.

The USA and Switzerland flags being waved in the crowd for the semifinal of the World Junior A Challenge. TINA COMEAU PHOTO

On the ice 2012 World Junior A Challenge volunteers and Mariners celebrated – and in the stands hockey fans did too – when it was announced that the event is returning to Yarmouth in 2013. TINA COMEAU PHOTO

At the 2012 World Junior A Challenge, Canada West players surround goalie Jonah Imoo as the team prepares to go on the ice for their warmup prior to the start of the gold medal game between their team and Team USA at the Mariners Centre in Yarmouth. TINA COMEAU PHOTO

<p>&nbsp;Hockey fan and World Junior A Challenge volunteer Cliff Gavel was among a capacity crowd cheering when the hockey tournament brought the world to Yarmouth in November.<br />BELLE HATFIELD PHOTO</p>

Fans in Yarmouth cheer as they packed the stands during the World Junior A Challenge. TINA COMEAU PHOTO

Russia Maxim Tretiak grandson of NHL Russian goalie Vladislav Tretiak reacts to this team scoring during the World Junior A Challenge in Yarmouth. TINA COMEAU PHOTO

Team USA wins the 2013 World Junior A Challenge with 4-1 over Russia. TINA COMEAU PHOTO

Canada East vs Canada West during the 2012 World Junior A Challenge in Yarmouth. Selection camps for this year's East and West rosters take place in late October. TINA COMEAU PHOTO

With the Team Switzerland bench behind him, Russian goalie Igor Shestyorkin collects his thoughts prior to the start of the first quarter-final game during the World Junior A Challenge in Yarmouth. TINA COMEAU PHOTO

Canada East and Switzerland met up for Game 6 of the preliminary round of the World Junior A Challenge in Yarmouth. TINA COMEAU PHOTO

Action between USA and Canada East during the second game of the first day of the World Junior A Challenge in Yarmouth. TINA COMEAU PHOTO

YARMOUTH – Hosting the World Junior A Challenge in 2012 and 2013 didn’t just leave a lasting impression, it has left a lasting legacy as well. The 2013 World Junior A Challenge Society has unveiled details on the distribution of the legacy funds. Mitch Bonnar, chairman of the Host Organizing Committee, says a $135,000.00 surplus was retained through the hosting of the WJAC 2012 and 2013 events.

The money is being distributed to support local hockey and to also attract future hockey events to the community.

The Legacy Funds distribution plan is as follows:

• $25,000 to Yarmouth County Minor Hockey for coaching, player and officials development and equipment

• $10,000 to Yarmouth County Minor Hockey for the development and promotion of female hockey programs

• $10,000 to Hockey Nova Scotia for the development of clinics and coaching camps to enhance minor hockey coaching resources in the Yarmouth area

• $8,000 to Yarmouth Mariners Centre for the purchase and installation of two hydration stations

• $7,000 to design and build a commemorative display to recognize volunteers and the WJAC to be permanently displayed at the Mariner Centre

• $15,000 to the host committee to attract future junior A events

• $15,000 to the host committee to attract other Future Hockey events including provincial, national and international championships

• $20,000 to Yarmouth Junior A Mariners to upgrade the junior A dressing room and exercise room at the Mariners Centre

• $25,000 to Yarmouth Junior A Mariners to establish an annual scholarship fund to support the post secondary education of graduating Yarmouth Junior A Mariners players

“This Legacy Fund is proof of how our community of great hockey fans and event volunteers can come together to host a world class event. It took many volunteer hours from many dedicated people but the results, through this legacy, will go a long way in assisting our youth to become better hockey players and grow as people as they learn that it takes teamwork, fair play and a love of the game to be successful” said Bonnar. “I am hoping to see some of these young players develop into future Yarmouth Jr. A. Mariners.”

More than 300 volunteers assisted with the two World Junior A Challenges, that saw teams from Canada, the United States, Russia, Switzerland and the Czech Republic take part.

“On behalf of all beneficiaries of the World Junior A Challenge Legacy, and the community, I would like to extend a thank you to our event partners, Hockey Canada, the CJHL, MHL and Hockey Nova Scotia,” said society Vice Chair Trudy LeBlanc. “Our municipal partners were engaged and for that I would like to extend a thank you to the Town of Yarmouth, Municipalities of Yarmouth, Argyle and Clare for their support.”

Riley Wiwchar of Hockey Canada gives Yarmouth high accolades.

“The host committee and entire community of Yarmouth did an exceptional job in hosting in the 2012 and 2013 World Junior A Challenges. On behalf of Hockey Canada, I would like to congratulate the host committee, all the volunteers and the community,” he said. “It gives me great pride to know that the legacy funds will assist in enhancing the game of hockey in the Yarmouth area into the future.”

The money is being distributed to support local hockey and to also attract future hockey events to the community.

The Legacy Funds distribution plan is as follows:

• $25,000 to Yarmouth County Minor Hockey for coaching, player and officials development and equipment

• $10,000 to Yarmouth County Minor Hockey for the development and promotion of female hockey programs

• $10,000 to Hockey Nova Scotia for the development of clinics and coaching camps to enhance minor hockey coaching resources in the Yarmouth area

• $8,000 to Yarmouth Mariners Centre for the purchase and installation of two hydration stations

• $7,000 to design and build a commemorative display to recognize volunteers and the WJAC to be permanently displayed at the Mariner Centre

• $15,000 to the host committee to attract future junior A events

• $15,000 to the host committee to attract other Future Hockey events including provincial, national and international championships

• $20,000 to Yarmouth Junior A Mariners to upgrade the junior A dressing room and exercise room at the Mariners Centre

• $25,000 to Yarmouth Junior A Mariners to establish an annual scholarship fund to support the post secondary education of graduating Yarmouth Junior A Mariners players

“This Legacy Fund is proof of how our community of great hockey fans and event volunteers can come together to host a world class event. It took many volunteer hours from many dedicated people but the results, through this legacy, will go a long way in assisting our youth to become better hockey players and grow as people as they learn that it takes teamwork, fair play and a love of the game to be successful” said Bonnar. “I am hoping to see some of these young players develop into future Yarmouth Jr. A. Mariners.”

More than 300 volunteers assisted with the two World Junior A Challenges, that saw teams from Canada, the United States, Russia, Switzerland and the Czech Republic take part.

“On behalf of all beneficiaries of the World Junior A Challenge Legacy, and the community, I would like to extend a thank you to our event partners, Hockey Canada, the CJHL, MHL and Hockey Nova Scotia,” said society Vice Chair Trudy LeBlanc. “Our municipal partners were engaged and for that I would like to extend a thank you to the Town of Yarmouth, Municipalities of Yarmouth, Argyle and Clare for their support.”

Riley Wiwchar of Hockey Canada gives Yarmouth high accolades.

“The host committee and entire community of Yarmouth did an exceptional job in hosting in the 2012 and 2013 World Junior A Challenges. On behalf of Hockey Canada, I would like to congratulate the host committee, all the volunteers and the community,” he said. “It gives me great pride to know that the legacy funds will assist in enhancing the game of hockey in the Yarmouth area into the future.”